CONCERTED ACTION ON MISCANTHUS

Objective

The main objective of this concerted action is to prepare up-to-date information on the industrial potential of Miscanthus in Europe. The concerted action will examine in particular the potential of Miscanthus as a raw material in the energy industry, paper pulp industry and in hardboard manufacture. To achieve this objective the concerted action will prepare up-to-date information on a Miscanthus covering agronomy, production, harvesting, pre-treatment, industrial conversions, environmental impact and economics. The work will identify obstacles to the current exploitation of Miscanthus as an industrial crop and will define how R&D can overcome these obstacles. One of the main results of the work will be detailed specification of the R&D requirements of Miscanthus. The concerted action will be organised and structured to provide information to:EU Miscanthus state of the art and its potential as an industrial non-food crop
Researchers: Identify topics which require further research. The concerted action will provide a forum for discussion of these R&D topics and for the establishment of consortia for specific R&D tasks.
Industrial organisations: Provide practical information on Miscanthus, its potential as a commercial crop and information on economics, logistics, expertise and production method
The consortium involved in this proposal includes Universities, Research Centres, and Industrial Organisations who have been involved in Miscanthus since 1990. The concerted action will build on the work done by the European Miscanthus Network (AIR-CT92-0294).
Project Specific Objective
The objectives outlined in the previous paragraphs will be implement by the following specific project objectives:
1. to maintain and expand the network of researchers and industrial organisatio involved in Miscanthus research in the EU
2. the consolidation of all data from Miscanthus R&D and the presentation of th data in a format suited to the EC, researchers and industrial organisations
3. workshops on Miscanthus to discuss new developments (technical and policy) a to identify specific Research and Development, Pilot Actions and Demonstrati
4. promotion of the results of Miscanthus R&D through technical and industrial publications. This will be done at EU and National Level
5. liaison with international activities in particul ar the International Energy Agency (EA) Task XII
6. preparation of a Handbook on Miscanthus describing the state-of-the-art of Miscanthus
Relevance of the proposed work to the objectives of the Work Programme
The proposal addresses section 1.1.1 of the work programme in that it concentra on the biomass and bio-energy chain of the j whole system (filler). The project brings together experts in the biomass and bio-energy field from universities, research centres and industries and will promote the results to a wider organisations involved in biomass and bio-energy. The proposed work is relevant to DGVI as it addresses CAP reform and relates in particular to commission regulation (EEC) No334/93 and commission regulation NO 2295/93 which specify Miscanthus as a crop which can be grown on set-aside land without affecting set-aside payments (provided the crop is destined for a non-food market). This proposal addresses section 1.1.1. of the work programme.

Fields of science

• social sciences › economics and business › economics
• agricultural sciences › agriculture, forestry, and fisheries › agriculture › agronomy
• agricultural sciences › agriculture, forestry, and fisheries › agriculture › industrial crops
• agricultural sciences › agricultural biotechnology › biomass

Programme(s)

• FP4-FAIR - Specific research, technological development and demonstration programme in the field of agriculture and fisheries (including agro-industry, food technologies, forestry, aquaculture and rural development), 1994-1998

Topic(s)

• 4.3.2 - Biomass production (food, feed, non-food and energy uses)

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CON - Coordination of research actions

Coordinator

HYPERION ENERGY SYSTEMS LTD.

Address

Main St. Watergrasshill
Co Cork
Ireland

Participants (20)

Agricoltura Biotecnologie

Italy

Address

Via Stazzone 14
48100 Ravenna

Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS)

United Kingdom

Address

Oxford Spires Business Park Mepal
CB6 2BA Ely

BAYERISCHE LANDESANSTALT FÜR WEINBAU UND GARTENBAU

Germany

Address

P.o. Box 110264
97209 Wuerzburg

BIOMASS TECHNOLOGY GROUP N.V.

Netherlands

Address

P.o. Box 217 - University Of Twente
7500 AE Enschede

CENTRE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Greece

Address

19th Km Marathonos Av.
190 09 Pikermi - Attiki

DANISH INSTITUTE OF PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCE

Denmark

Address

P.o. Box 23
8830 Tjele

Ente per le Nuove Tecnologie l'Energia e l'Ambiente (ENEA)

Italy

Address

Via Anguillarese 301
00060 Santa Maria Di Galeria Roma

FEDERAL INSTITUTE CENTRE FOR FORESTRY AND FOREST PRODUCTS

Germany

Address

Sieker Landstraße, 2
22927 Grosshansdorf

FEDERAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF AGRICULTURE

Germany

Address

Bundesallee, 50
38116 Braunschweig

I.N.R.A.

France

Address

78850 Thiverval-grignon

PICCOPLANT MIKROVERMEHRUNGEN G.M.B.H.

Germany

Address

Brokhauser Weg, 75
26129 Oldenburg

ROTHAMSTED RESEARCH LIMITED

United Kingdom

Address

West Common
AL5 2JQ Harpenden, Herts

SORGHUM ORGANISATION AND RESEARCH GROUP FOR HIGH ALTITUDE AND LATITUDE

Belgium

Address

Rue Saint Victor, 3
4500 Huy

TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN

Ireland

Address

School Of Botany - Trinity College
2 Dublin

UNIVERSIDAD DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELLA

Spain

Address

Avda. Das Ciencas - Campus Sur
15706 Santiago De Compostella

UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX

United Kingdom

Address

Wivenhoe Park John Tabor Laboratories
CO4 3SQ Colchester

Links

UNIVERSITY OF LISBON

Portugal

Address

Quinta Da Torre
2825 Monte De Caparica

UNIVERSITÄT FÜR BODENKULTUR

Austria

Address

Gregor Mendel-straße, 33
1180 Vienna

Università degli Studi di Catania

Italy

Address

Via Valdisavoia 5
95123 Catania

WAGENINGEN AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

Netherlands

Address

Bomenweg 4
6703 HD Wageningen